| Sector | Infrastructure |
| Sub-sector | Battery storage |
| Location | Americas |
Peak power demand is projected to grow by 20 per cent over the next decade, with new data centre load alone expected to add as much as 100 GW by 2035 - equivalent to 10 per cent of total current US energy generation capacity.1 As demand for high-performance computing and AI workloads accelerates, data centres are encountering tightening grid constraints and increasing interconnection delays. Conventional infrastructure responses – new substations, transmission lines and additional power generation – require substantial capital and can, in some cases, add up to seven years to grid connection.
For Aligned Data Centers’ (Aligned) Hillsboro campus, the local utility’s initial assessments indicated a multi-year wait before sufficient capacity could be made available, creating a critical barrier to bringing new data center infrastructure online.
Developed using Calibrant’s proprietary Path-to-Power framework - a replicable, scalable solution – the BESS functions as a grid-responsive asset, designed to discharge during peak demand, bolster grid reliability and ensure uninterrupted service.
The project represents the first-of-its-kind purpose-built BESS specifically designed to accelerate interconnection for a large data centre load, with safety, domestic manufacturing, and continuous monitoring embedded in the design.2 It also demonstrates a new model for large power users to take greater control of their energy supply, benefiting the whole system and avoiding costly grid upgrades that would have otherwise likely been passed on to ratepayers.
Outcome
By converting the data centre’s load from a potential grid liability into a dynamic grid asset, the local utility is able to control flexibility during capacity-constrained periods, helping to maintain reliable service without additional stress on the grid. The solution can also lower cost pressure on local utility ratepayers by helping avoid costly grid upgrades and spreading fixed grid costs across a larger customer base.
on‑site battery energy storage system2
US purpose‑built BESS to accelerate data centre interconnection2
to market vs. traditional grid upgrade timelines2
This innovative model allows large power users to take control of their energy future while being stewards of their community – ensuring growth objectives are met in a manner that supports grid reliability, has minimal environmental impact, and doesn't burden others with the costs."
Phil Martin
CEO
Calibrant
1. North American Electric Reliability Corporation, ‘2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment’, July 2025.
2. Calibrant Energy, ‘Aligned and Calibrant to Deploy First-of-its-Kind On-Site Battery Storage Project to Unlock Utility Power for Data Centers’, October 2025.
Learn more
